Chapter Six #2
“There she is,” Papa said, holding his hands out. “You look beautiful, I’m sure Roberto will have no problem finding you a suitable husband.”
My brother shot me a look to warn me to behave, and bile burned up the back of my throat. When I returned home tonight, I will have been sold off to a violent stranger who would own my body and soul.
My stomach cramped in fear at the road that lay ahead of me.
“Shall we go?” Roberto asked, a feral smile twisting his lips. “I have some meetings penned into my diary before I make any final announcements.”
Mum’s hand squeezed mine, and I fought the urge to run. “There is no need to tease your sister, Roberto. You already know who you have selected for Olivia.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “There is always room for negotiations and additional offers.”
Was I nothing more than cattle to be sold at auction?
He continued to watch me to assess my reaction to his words, but I kept a bored, neutral expression.
For years, Mama had schooled me until she couldn’t determine my reaction to any situation.
I was beginning to realise the value of the lessons she had instilled in me.
It was her way of keeping us safe in this world of monsters and predators.
She manoeuvred us from the hallway to where the car was waiting outside, bypassing Roberto.
He would never defy Mama as her and Papa were head of our family.
I kept my head high, refusing to look back or cower down to my brother.
When we were little, we would have stuck our tongues out at him in a moment like this, but the new Roberto would probably cut it out of my mouth.
I followed Mama’s example, sliding into the car behind her, tugging my cape tighter around me to cover my outfit.
The moon was waxing in the sky, nearing fullness, and I remembered the times when my English grandmother had taught me to wish on the new moon, as your wish would be fulfilled as the moon became full.
Hope no longer resided in me, fear living in its place in my heart.
The lights of the city taunted me, counting down to my demise.
In the end, I refused to look out of the window, and instead sat with my eyes closed.
I should have been on the countdown to my wedding, the dress I’d chosen currently hung in the storage area of the dress designer.
Annabella had chosen it, selecting what she would have wanted for her wedding since she had had to wear an heirloom from her future family.
She had been beautiful in it, but it wasn’t what she had dreamed of when she had planned her wedding day while we played with our Barbie dolls.
“Tobias was on the phone earlier looking for alliances,” Papa said to Roberto. “He is still furious with Maximus Rossi after the incident with his son.”
My ears picked up at the mention of Maximus.
He had been my secret friend for ten years, the one person who I had shared my true feelings with.
We had spent many hours bitching about our lives and the people we hated most in our society.
I had lost count of the number of times he starred in my secret fantasies, imagining him as the hero in every book I read.
“Maximus would crush Tobias under the heel of his boot. What was he thinking striking against him in the heart of his business?” Roberto shook his head. “Everyone knows he’s a feral fucker who would rip your throat out for looking at him wrong.”
Roberto chuckled at the image of Maximus attacking someone who had offended him.
“What was the incident with his son?” I asked, my curiosity piqued after hearing mutterings at the last event as well.
Roberto stretched his legs out and grinned, obviously enjoying being the font of knowledge.
“Tobias sent his son to abduct some of the Rossi staff and put a bullet in Maximus’ head before he realised what was happening.
” Papa laughed at Roberto’s words, rubbing his hands together as he enjoyed the story.
“He hadn’t predicted the Rossi security system, and his men were slaughtered in the foyer.
When Maximus realised they had taken his staff, he tracked the team down, and sent Tobias the head of his son. ”
“I heard he put it in a box with a red ribbon wrapped around it,” Papa continued. “Fucking psychopath.”
A giggle escaped from me, and I tried to cover my mouth as Papa and Roberto both stared at me as if I had lost my mind.
Maybe I had.
In a discussion a few years ago, I had suggested sending a head in a box like they had in the film Seven as revenge. It never occurred to me that he would use that conversation as inspiration to send a message to his enemy now.
“A red bow,” I said in a low voice, returning my gaze to watching out the window. That had been the colour I specifically said in our conversation and he had rolled his eyes at me. I felt as if I had secretly been part of the revenge Maximus had enacted.
Silence descended for the remainder of the journey. I was more than aware that they were displeased by my behaviour. Roberto had told the story to shock me, and instead I had laughed at the details contained in it.
Roberto emerged from the car first, followed by Papa, then Mama, and lastly me.
I clutched my cape around me, walking behind my family, acutely aware of the eyes pinned on us as we walked through the entrance hall to the cloak room.
I wanted to keep my cloak, but my armour was taken from me, leaving me feeling naked.
“Behave,” Roberto hissed in my ear. “I have some people waiting to speak to me.” He placed a kiss on my cheek, and I felt like wiping it away, but I wouldn’t give him the pleasure of knowing he had annoyed me.
“Smile,” Mama said under her breath. “Head up, shoulders back, and smile.”
I took a glass of wine from a passing waiter, and gulped a large mouthful to bolster my courage. Tonight my life would change, and there was nothing I could do to save myself from the looming disaster.